Korea, 28 Oct 2010, Day 1, Imjingak Park

The Unification Pond in the shape of Korea with the 3-storey Imjingak Building in the background. Here’s a teaser since we didn’t manage to capture the full outline …

The Freedom Pond

That’s us on the stretch of the Freedom Bridge (a former railroad bridge which was used by repatriated POWs/soldiers returning from the north) open to the public. Overhead, flock after flock of migratory swan geese flew by in their trademark "V" formation.

That’s the viewing platform to see the railroad segment of the Freedom Bridge.

Here’s the Freedom Bridge (the railroad segment).

Korean aunties singing and dancing on the Freedom Bridge to a Korean song about unification.

A fence of prayer ribbons written with hopes of peace and unification, and messages to loved ones and others across the border... messages which will never be received.

The remnants of a train that was caught in the crossfire in the DMZ during the Korean War. (See the bullet holes?)  Thankfully, it was transporting just coal and a few crew members, and no lives were lost. It remained at the same spot for the next 50 years till it was retrieved.

Parts of the original railway track.

This is the plant that grew out through the train as it languished for the next 50 years. It was transplanted when the train was retrieved and in testimony to its resilience, continues to thrive (we don't see the leaves because this was taken in Autumn).

One of many rock structures in the park. This one is entitled “Gazing at the Homeland”.

Mangbaedan, the place where people who had fled from North Korea and settled in far east Russia visit and perform ancestral rites by bowing toward their hometown every New Year’s Day and Chuseok (15th day of the 8th lunar month). Every year many events for unification are held at Imjingak.

Rites being performed when we were there.

The Peace Bell Pavillion

An unblocked view available at

http://www.richardtmoore.com/gallery/5598692_RHPME/2/345579331_e3C3k#345579331_e3C3k

The Stones of Peace Wall – a collection of stones from many war locations around the world, but none from WWII Singapore :(
Hey, Singapore may not have mountains, but stones, we have ...